Tarnishproof container



Feb. l0, 1931. G. E. HERRING 1,791,594

TARNISHPROOF' CONTAINER Filed Jan. lO, 1929 /Zv I I VENTOR.

El E l @E E. HEI-Ti@ Patented Feb,a 10, 1931 GEORGE E. BERBING, F CHICAGO, ILLINIS TARNISEPRO 0F CONTAINER Application e January 10,1929. Serial No. $31,523.

This invention relates to improvements in means for protecting silverware from becoming tarnished by reason of contact with the atmospheric traces of sulphurated hydro- '5 gen or sulphur dioxide.

The primary object of this invention is' the provision of a tarnish prevention case for silverware, wherein silverware may be received and protected by means of a compartment surrounding lining which is chemically treated to arrest traces of sulphurated hydrogen or sulphur dioxide which may seek to enter the compartment.

A Jfurther object ot this invention is the rovision of an improved box or container or receiving silverware in an eiiicient relation.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

ln the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved tarnish prevention case or container,

showing the cover open and the compartments and sections exposed for receiving silverware.

Figures 2 and 4 are sectional views taken substantially on their respective lines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken transversely of the. case from front to rear thereof, with the cover closed. p

Figure 5 is a view showing the liner for the container or box, preferably of feltor some other flexible material which may be impregnated or coated with a chemical de- 30 signed to prevent the tarnishing of silver.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only a preferred embodim'ent of the invention, the letter A mayV generally designate the improved box or the container, which is constructed of inexpensive materials, and preferably of thin pieces of Wood, laminated or otherwise. Preferably, the container includes a rectangular shaped bottom 10, having upstanding front and rear walls 11 and 12, and side walls 13 and 14,

the edges 'of which may be suitably glued, bolted, or otherwise secured, either with edge abutting or mortice and tenon joints. The size of the container may vary, but for holding tableware, such as spoons, knives and `forks, it ispreferred to provide an anti-silver tarnish box having a series of campartments extending in parallelism with each other and with the side walls 13 and 14, with the lengths running from the front to the rear 5@ walls, as is shown in the drawing. The upstanding walls 11 to 14 inclusive are all of the' same height, and the partition walls 17, of which any approvednumber may be provided, are of wood, or any other desired ma- 85 terial, and are adapted to vbe morticed in the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls, at the ends thereof, as shown at 20 in Figure 2 of the drawing. rlhe partition walls 17 have their lower edges resting on the bottom` 10 and their upper edges flush with the top edges of the upstanding walls 11 to 14 inclusive.

The top of the box preferably includes a stationary rear section 25 and a cover 26 75 hinged to the section 25. The section 25, in length, extends from side wall 13 to side wall 14, and along its rear margin overlaps the top of the rear wall 12, and is secured thereto in any approved relation.

At the ends thereof it may be secured to the tops of the side walls 13 and 14 in any approved relation. The closure 26 is hinged along the front edge of the top 25. This hinge edge is spaced from the rear wall 12 85 ,a distance preferably less than one-third'the dimension of the box from the front wall to the rear wall. The stationary top portion 25 is preferably provided with depending side flanges 30 ada ted to overlap the outer sur- 90 :faces of the si e walls 13 and 14, to present a finished appearance.

The closure 26 is of wood, ot the same thickness as the other walls of the body, and

-it includes the body portion 37 having side 95 flanges 38 and 39 adapted to respectively overlap the outer'surfaces of the side walls 13 and 14, and the front flange 40 adapted to exteriorly voverlap the front wall 11, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The clo- 100 sure 26`at its rear margin is hinged to the stationary top portion 25, as will be subsequently mentioned.

The entire surfacing within the compartments and sections of compartments of the container are lined with some yieldable surfacing, such'as felt, fabric, or anything that will not mar silver by Corning in contact therewith, and which will support the tarnish prevention chemical. It is preferred to use some flannel material, and a piece is cut as shown at B in Figure 5 of the drawing, which includes the body portion 102L having side flaps 11:l and 12EL at opposite sides thereof and at the front and rear ends thereof including flaps which are divided into sections 13a by means of slit lines 14a extending from the outer edges thereof. This material B is placed in the box body prior to the assembling of the partitions 17 therein, and it is apparent that the side flaps 1ln and 12L cover the inner surfaces of the side walls 13 and 14, with the body 10a covering the inner surface of the bottom l0, as shown in the drawing. The division lines 14a for the flap sections 13a, of course, fall along the morticed recesses wherein the ends of the partition walls are received, as is shown in Figure 2. Thus, the entire inner surfaces of the side walls, front and rear walls and bottom, are covered with the fabric, flannel-like material 'The partitions 17 are wrapped with the flannel-like material by means of individual a flannel or fabric sections 45, which cover the opposite sides of lsaid partitions, from end to end, and overlap the upper edges thereof, so that the inside surface of the cover when closed may abutthe lining material of said partition walls, to seal off the individual compartments from cach other, as is shown in Figure 4.

A piece of the fabric material 50 is adhered to the under surfaces of the top 25 and closure 26, extending unbroken across the hinge connection of said parts. lf desired, a little slack material may be left in the goods at the hinge connection of the closure 26, to permit the closure to readily open, without stretching the. cloth to the breaking point.

The outer surfaces 'of all walls and the closure of the box, with the exception of the partition walls. may be covered with suitable surfacing, or fancy paper having suitable designs thereon. This paper material may also extend unbroken across the hinge of the closure 26, and if desired the closure 26 may be additionally vhinged by a strip of flexible material extending longitudinally of the hinge joint and'adhere to the under surface ofthe top 25'and closure 26,y as has been designated at in Figure 3- of the drawing.

It is' apparent from the foregoing that all surfaces 'of theH box facingA ,the individual article 'receiving compartments are provided with the fabric or flannel-like material, so that there is no opportunity for any air to enter the compartment, when the closure is shut upon the box, except thru the flannellike surfacing or material. The fabric may be glued or otherwise suitably secured to the surfaces in the respective positions above designated, and it is to be noted that the morticed ends of the partition walls hold the flap sections 13'i in place in the morticed recesses, as shown in Figure 2.

To limit the open position of the closure 26, a movement limiting cord or other device is provided, secured at its ends to a wall 13 and flange 38, as shown in Figures 1 and 4 of the drawing.

An outstanding feature of the invention is the coating, impregnating, or otherwise depositing upon the material which lines the compartment, of a chemical which will prevent the tarnishingof silver disposed in the individual compartments by neutralizing the sulphurated hydrogen or sulphur dioxide which may seek to enter said compartments. The preferred method of depositing the chemical on the surfacing of the compartment is to thoroughly spray the same with a solution of acetate of lead, preferably in the proportion of four pounds of acetate of lead to one gallon of water. The nature of the flannelelike fabric is such that the droplets adhere to the fibers exposed to the compartments, or to the pile or nap, so as to provide a coating within each compartment, which will arrest and neutralize any sulphurated hydrogen or sulphur dioxide tending to enter the compartments. Of course, any other well known chemical which will prevent tarnishing of silver, may be used in lieu of the above, and I have in mind such solutions as borax, caustic potash, and metallic zinc, hypo-sulphite of soda, ammonium carbonate and others. It has been demonstrated during my' experiments, that surfaces with a fibrous texture, 0r a nap, such as felt, are the most effective when chemically treated to arrest traces of sulphurated hydrogen and sulphur dioxide which ordinarily cause tarnishing of silver. It is apparent that the invention is of outstanding importance, because silverware will be prevented from becoming tarnished and will reta-in its bright and usable condition. This saves silver-plating in the case of silver-plated ware, and is in line with the endeavor in t-he arts and trades lines to conserve precious metals. 'v

Various changes Vin ,the shape of the container for receiving silverware may bemade, it being contemplated .by me to use a flexible case.. However, the case as shown' hasbeen found by experiment tobe the most eliicient. With any'approved case used for enclosing silverware I may employany approved'ehemical 'which' will -prevent'f-thetarnishing of 'the meme@ silverware, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

p l. As an article of manufacture a silverware case having means to remove or replace articles of silverware with respect thereto at will, the silverware facing surfaces therein being treated with a chemical capable of arresting the tarnishing influence of sulphurated hydrogen and sulphur dioxide as present in `the surrounding atmosphere externally of the case.

2. As an article of manufacture a silver- ;ware container having closure/means and a compartment arranged to completely enclose a piece of silverware with a fabric-like surface facing the compartment having a sprayed coating of a tarnish resisting chemical thereon.

3. As an article of manufacture a silverware storage case having a compartment arranged to completely enclose a piece of silverware with a fabric-like surface facing the compartment having a sprayed coating of a solution of acetate of lead.

4. In a case of the class described a receptacle having a compartmentvtherein for receiving silverware, a closure for the compartment, thecompartment facing surfaces of all walls of the case and the closure having a suitable yieldable material thereon' which will prevent' the scratching of silverware by rubbing thereagainst, and a protecting chemical on the compartment facing surfaces of` said material capable of combating the chemical action Aof sulphur fumes to prevent the tarnishing of silverware in said case.

5. In a silverware' receiving case a receptacle body having a silverware receiving compartment therein, a top covering a portion of said compartment and normally stationary and rigid with the receptacle, a cover hinged to said top as a means of access to said re ceptacle body, the cover when shut entirely l closing lthe compartment of the receptacle body, and a sprayed ,solution of a chemical upon the compartment facing walls of the body capable of arresting traces of sulphuric fumes ever present in the atmosphere.

6. In a silverware receiving case a receptacle body having a silverware receiving cornpartment therein, a top covering a portion of said compartment and normally stationary and rigid with the receptacle, a. cover hinged to said top as a means of access to said receptacle body, the cover when shut entirely closing the compartment -of the receptacle body, a yieldable fabric lining on the compartment facing surfaces of the receptacle top and cover, and a chemical deposited on thecompartment facing surfaces of said lining consisting of a solution of acetate of lead.

7. In a silverware case a box-like body including a bottom, upstandin friit rear and side walls, a closurev for the ody, a yieldable lining on the compartment facing surfaces of the bottom and upstanding walls and closure, of a nature to prevent marring of silverware by contact therewith, the closure when shut providing a compartment which is said compartment, the closure, bottom and upstanding walls being formed of wood and having the comp'arment facing surfaces thereof lined with antisilverware marring material provided with an anti-tarnish chemical thereon capable of arresting the sulphur fumes ever present in the air which might seep thru the walls and covering of the case.

9. In a silverware case the combination of a bottom, upstanding front, rear and side walls defining a compartment, a closure for said compartment, the closure, bottom and upstanding walls being formed of wood and having the compartment facing surfaces thereof lined with antisilverware marring material provided with an anti-tarnish chemical thereon capable of arresting the sulphur fumes ever present in the air which might seep thru the walls and covering of the case, a plurality of partitions in the case subdividing the interior thereof into a plurality of individual silverware receiving compartments which are closed to each other when the. closure is shut, said partitions being faced with a non-marring soft material provided with the anti-tarnish chemical of the nature above mentioned.

10. In a. silverware case a box-like body including a bottom, upstanding, front and rear and side Walls, a plurality of partition walls secured at their ends to t e upstanding walls and at their bottom edges against the bottom wall to define a plurality of compartments, the u per edges 0f said partitions lylio ing substantially flush with the top edges of said front, rear and side Walls, and ato construction for the box-'like body inclu ing. a closure which shuts to abut the tops of the upstanding and partition walls to entirely enclose each of said compartments and to entirely closethe individual compartments with respect to each other, and a sulphide neutralizing chemical upon the surfaces of the walls facing anddefinmg said individual compartments.

11. In a silverware case a box-like body including a bottom, upstanding front and standing walls to define a plurality of com partments, the upper edges of said parti-- tions lying substantially flush with the top edges of said front, rear and side Walls, a fixed top extension over parts of said compartments along the rear Wall from side Wall to side Wall and abutting the top edges of the partition Wall and leaving exposed parts of said individual compartments from the front wall rearwardly, a closure hinged to said top extension in position to engage the top edges of said Walls for entirely closing the compartments to eachother and to the atmosphere, the compartment facing surfaces of the Walls, bottom and top extension and closure having fabric provided with a sprayed solution of acetate of lead.

12. In a silverware receiving case, a receptacle body having a plurality of partition Walls therein subdividing the same into a plurality of compartments, a top Wall fixed with the receptacle and permanently covering portions of said compartments, and a cover movable upon the other portion of the top of the receptacle as a means of access to said compartments, the cover when shut entirely enclosing the compartments and engaging the tops of the partitions for closing said partitions off from each other, yieldable fabric lining on the compartment facing surfaces of the Walls of each of said compartments, and a sulphide neutralizing chemical on the compartment exposed surfaces of the fabric lining.

13. In a silverware receiving case, a receptacle body comprising a bottom and upstanding Walls, partitions in the body sub-dividing the same into a lurality of compartments, a cover, means or applying the cover tightly upon the top of said body, yieldable fabric lining on the compartment facing surfaces of the body and partition walls and the cover, said yieldable fabric being placed to be compressed between the inside surface of the cover and the top edges of the partition Walls to effectively seal off said compartments With respect to each other When the cover is in place, and a sulphide-neutralizing chemical sprayed into the compartment facing surfaces of said yieldable fabric lining.

GEGRGE E. HEREIN@ 

